Button-carding machine.



Patented. Mar. 11, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEBT 1.

A. L. 'CURRIEIL BUTTON GARDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED como, 1911.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0..wASh|NG1-0N. D. c.

A. L. GURRIER.

BUTTON GARDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED uomo, 1911.

1,055,523. Patented Mar. 11, 1913.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@glasses-- COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH co.,w.\sH|NG1oN. n. c

A. L. UURRIBR. BUTTON GARDING MACHINE.

y APPLICATION FILED 00T.2| 1911. 1,055,523. Patented Mar. 11

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

CoLLAmlA PLANOGRAPM co., WASHINGTON. u. c.

A.- L. CURRIER.

BUTTON GARDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0OT.20, 1911. 1,055,523. Patented Mar. 11, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

lll/fllllll//l/l 11;/1/1//1//1/11. vl. fr,

cqLuMBlA PLANOORAPH C0.,WASH1NGTON. 11C,

` A. L. CURRIER. BUTTON GARDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED como, 1911.

Patented MaI'. 11, 1913..

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

STATES ATT OFFICE.

ARTHUR L. CURRIER, OE NEWTON HIGHLANDS, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO J. W.MOORE MACHINE COMPANY, OE BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OFMASSACHUSETTS.

BUTTON-CARDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 11, 1913.

Application filed ctober 20, 1911. Serial No. 655,794.

a specification, like letters on the drawings 'epresenting like parts.

This invention relates to machines for izarding buttons and likearticles, and while certain of the features thereof have other and moregeneral fields of usefulness, the mechanism as a whole is especiallydesigned for forming button cards of the type shown in my Patent No.981,537, January 10, 1911.

The present machine, like its predecessors, provides means forautomatically forming the wire staples which secure the buttons to thecards, and for rapidly inserting said Ystaples and fastening the buttonsto the card thereby but has many Jfeatures of ad- I vantage and noveltywhereby it is enabled to handle the most uneven and frail pearl buttons(for example) without danger of injury to the buttons and yet at highspeed and with certainty and accuracy of stapling. In the first place,mechanism is provided whereby there is no pressure on the button, eitherwhen inserting the staple or when clenching it. In the next place, meansis provided for so holding the card, staple and button that the card andstaple are together before the card and button are engaged or at leastin intimate contact with each other. In the third place, the clenchingof the staple or fastener is effected independent-ly of the button, i'.e., the button structure is not relied upon to aid in bending the wire.This .is preferably effected by giving the staple a forward clenchingimpulse in a direction from the card buttonward and outward therefromagainst a relatively stationarv anvil, as distinguished from giving thestaple legs a clenching impulse or blow on their ends in a directiontoward the button and card (as heretofore). I depend upon the staple, asits clenching is being completed, to draw the button to the card, asdistinguished from relying upon the button as a resistance to thestapling pressure (as heretofore).

The great advantage of all the foregoing points or features is that themachine is in no way dependent upon the button as an aid to themechanism or to any operation, but operates with equal precision anddeft- 1 ness or delicacy on a thin and split button or a thick, strongbutton or a true regular button. v

Besides the above, my machine is distinguished in delivering the buttonsbeneath the card, in supporting the card above the button, in having ahorn which holds up the button in right relation to the staple, (saidhorn preferably constituting also a means for supporting the card freefrom the button), in having means to turn the ends of the staple legsindependently of aid from the button (and preferably so that theVbending legs or ends thereby lift the button into place), in havingmeans, like an anvil, which passes the leg-ends by each other so as notto interfere with each other, in having means for driving the leg-endsof the staple through the card (gaining a good friction-al grip in thecard) before they en gage the anvil or pass through the button, and inhaving a special wire feeding and staple forming mechanism and cardfeeding and button placing mechanisms capable of properly cooperatingwith the aforesaid.

The invention will be better understood from the following detaileddescription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, whereina preferred embodiment is illustrated, and the features of noveltyincluding all the above mentioned and various others will be thereafterpointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings: Figure l is a side elevation of my improvedmachine. Fig. Q is a detail view better showing certain of the operatinglevers shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus. Fig. 4is a horizontal section approximately on line 4 4 of Fig. l, showingcertain of the operative parts in elevation. Fig. 5 is a detail showingthe construction of the tray slide for arranging the buttons. Fig. 6 isa front elevation showing the gang of operating plungers. Fig. 7 is avertical sectional view showing the internal construction of one of saidplungers. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail section on line 8-8 of Fig. T.Fig. 9 is an end view of a plunger. Fig. 10 is an enlarged detailshowing one o-f the anvils in elevation and the surrounding parts insection. Fig. 11 isa fragmentary view of an anvil at right angles toFig. 10. Fig. 12 is a plan view of the anvil shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 13is a longitudinal sectional detail showing the wire feeding mechanism.Fig. la is a vertical transverse section through the part 132 of Fig.13. Fig. 15 is a partial plan view of the apparatus showing moreespecially the arrangement of operating levers, Fig. 16 is a detail of awire tension device. Fig. 17 is a fragmentary detail showing the mannerof mounting of the wire cut-olf knife, Fig. 18 is a detail elevation ofthe stripper plate, and Fig. 19 is a detail sectional view of a yieldingconnection for operating the setting spindle.

For convenience of description and clearness of presentation, I willdescribe my invention in the specific embodiment of the machine of thedrawings, but wish it understood at the start that., although 1 mentionall the details of mechanism and operation, 1 do notintend to limit theinvention thereto, as in many respects it is broadly new, as alreadystated, and the range of mechanical embodiments is correspondinglylarge.

The buttons to be carded are supplied from any suitable source shown asa traytable 1. A shallow tray-space 2 is formed in a tray-slide 3 of asize to receive the desired number of buttons in regular arrangement,the particular form shown being adapted for three rows of four buttonseach. This tray-slide 3 is mounted on suitable ways 4, l formed on a topplate 5, to ,slide transversely of the apparatus and its bottom Gextends under said plate 5 and is separately slidable transversely ofthe direction of tray movement to permit opening of the bottom of thetray, when it is desired to deposit the complement of buttons therefrom.The tray-space 2 being filled with buttons in regular alinement withbottoms up, the tray is slid transversely of the apparatus so that thebuttons are positioned over an anvil space 7 arranged so that the seriesof anvils carried thereby are in alinement with the individual buttons.To effect this cross-wise sliding of the tray a button or knob 8 isfixed to its bottom 6 and extends up through a transverse slot 9 in thelarge plate this slothaving at its inner end an extension 10 at rightangles thereto. Thus, as the knob is moved along the slot 9 the traywith its load of buttons is brought directly over the anvil space 7,this occurring just as the knob reaches the end of the said slot, then,by a further movement of said knob along the length of slot 10, thebottom G of the tray is withdrawn, and th-e several butto-ns aredeposited each on its anvil 11. As shown more particularly in Figs.10-12, each anvil 11 is of cylindrical form with a reduced top whichcarries, preferably integral therewith, a horn formed with oppositeprongs adapted to enter the thread holes of the buttons and if, thebuttons are thus deposited on the anvils, certain of the buttons do notat once fit down over the horns, they may be caused to do so by slightmanipulation on the part of the operative. The anvils 11 are set in aheavy plate 1Q constituting part of aslide carriage 18 and their upperportions are surrounded by a stripper plate let having individual buttonsockets or pockets 15 around each anvil. The plate 14 is mounted on theslide carriage 13 with a capability of tilting movement, being looselyheld in place by screw bolt connections 1G and a spring pressedconnection 17. This plate extends to one side of the machine, as seen at18, and is there cutaway to enable the card to be readily removed and toafford a convenient handle for tilting the plate as required to removethe buttons from the anvils after they have been affixed to the card.

The cards to which the buttons are to be aflixed are laid on the ends ofthe anvilhorns over the backs of the buttons as thus deposited on theiranvils and to insure the proper placing of the cards with reference tothe buttons, positioning brackets 19, 20 are arranged at either side ofthe anvil space, these being adjustable toward and from each other bymeans of elongated slots, 2l, through which pass screws 22 into theslide carriage so that they may be clamped in proper position withreference to the anvil space and the particular cards to be used. Thesebrackets have upstanding ears 23 at their extremities with which thecards engage, and the bracket 20, with which it is designed that thecard be first engaged, has also cooperative therewith inwardly extendingguiding projections 24. To further insure the proper positioning of thebutton card, the rear edge of the plate 5 has depending therefrom alight leaf spring 25 with a rounded lower end adapted, as the slidecarriage moves forward, to drag on the card and shift it slightly if notalready properly positioned and to press the card down into place. Anadjustable end-positioner 26 may also be provided to determine theendwise position of the card. In order to permit convenient inspectionand adjustment of the parts just described, and also in some eases toaid the removal of the carded buttons, the large plate 5 carrying thetrayslide is adapted to be swung up to uncover the same, as seen in Fig.4l, for this purpose having ears 27 pivoted on an axis 28 close to theside of the framework. The buttons thus assembled. on their respectiveanvils, with the card to which they are to be affixed held in properrelation thereto, are now moved to the fastener forming and securingmechanisms, or, as herein shown, underneath the plunger or plungers toreceive the securing staples.

My invention is not limited as to the number of staple setting plungersto be employed, but in the preferred embodimentv shown, a. line of suchplungers corresponding in number, 2'. c. four, to the number of buttonsin each line is employed and the slide carriage is moved step by step tobring the successive lines of buttons underneath the line of plungers.To effect this the slide carriage 13 is mounted to operate on parallelguide rods 29 fixed to the framework and is connected to an operatinglink 30 from a lever 31 fulcruined at 32 on the machine framework andhaving its other end provided with a roll 33 operable in a cam groove 34on one side of a main driving wheel 35 to be later described more fully.The cam groove 34, as shown, has alternating concentric and steppedportions, these being proportioned and arranged so that the first stepportion 34a brings the rst line of but-- tons into register beneath theplungers, while'the succeeding step portions 34", 34c operate the lever31 just enough to position the successive button rows beneath theplunger line. After the carriage is thus advanced, so that the lastbutton row has been acted on by the setting plungers the carriage has adwell as the roll 33 passes through the concentric portion 34r1 of thecam groove and is inally returned to initial position by the inwardlydirected portion 34e. To insure further accuracy in the positioning ofthe successive rows of buttons exactly beneath the plunger line,especially as the driving parts become worn. a plate 36 is adjustablyiixed to the framework at 37 and pressed upward by means of a stoutspring 38 so that the three notches or dwells 39 in its outer end, whichis turned edgewise, successively engage the shaft pin 40 on the bottomof the carriage slide which cooperates therewith as a holding detent,this detent, when seated in the successive notches exactly positioningthe respective rows of buttons beneath the line of plungers.

The guide support for the plungers designated generally 41 is fixed tothe main framework and is provided with an upright projection 42carrying spaced apart guide posts 43, 44, on which is suitably guided across-head 45 for operating all the plungers. This crosshead is itselfoperated by a lever 46 pivoted at 47 and operated by a roll 4S. Thislever is broken or made in two parts, shown in Fig. 2, so that it-soperating extension 49 only moves it positively in one direction, e'.c., to force the crosshead 45 downward, there being a iiexibleconnection 50 between these lever portions so that the lever arm 46 isyieldingly lifted by the lever arm 49. The arm 49 has a controlledmovement imparted thereto by said roller 48 thereon operating in a camgroove 5l on the face of the wheel 35 opposite the groove 34. Coilsprings 52 around the posts 43 and 44 extend between the support 41 andthe crosshead 45 to support the cross head and parts carried thereby andaid in the lifting thereof. Each operating plunger consists of threeparts, viz., an outer sleeve 53, an intermediate sleeve 54, and acentral spindle 55, and as all the plungers are alike the followingdetailed description of one applies to all.- The outer sleeve portion53, which serves to cut off the wire as it is fed through the wireguiding aperture 56 in a manner later described and also coperates withthe intermediate plunger in the bending operation, is controlledprimarily from a lever arm 57 fulcrumed at 58 with short extensions 59for each spindle at one side operating between lugs 60 fixed on thesleeve 53. The operating portion of the arm 57 extends out adjacent aside of the cam wheel 35 where it is formed with a bent portion 61adapted to be successively engaged by three spaced apart roller pins 62on the wheel 35 to be lifted against the tension of a spring 63 coiledabout its fulcrum, and thus cause the sleeve 53 to be forced down. Thisforcing down of the sleeve 53 of each of the plungers causes a knifeplate 64, slidably guided in the support 41 and engaging insets in therespective sleeves 53, to be forced downward close across the end faceof the wire guiding tubes to shear oif the wires which have been fedtherethrough to a predetermined extent by the automatic feedingmechanism to be described.

As seen in Fig. 17, the knife plate 64 fits the insets 65 in the twoouter sleeves quite closely so as to receive operative movementtherefrom, the engaging walls of-these insets being convex to permit aself-adjustment of the sleeves relative to the knife plate and allow foruneven seating of the sleeves. The insets 66 in the two middle sleevesthrough which the knife plate passes may be considerably enlarged, asshown, since engagement by the outer sleeves is sufficient to impartoperative movement to the knife plate. The knife plate 64 isunrestrained as to endwise movement so far as its operating sleeves areconcerned and is loosely held for a limited endwise play betweenabutments 64a formed on the guide support 41. The purpose of thisarrangement is to permit the knife plate to have not only aself-adjusting movement relative to the sleeves which move it, but alsoa small endwise play so that fresh cutting surfaces are continually andautomatically brought into action as the knife plate works back andforth Abetween, its limits of movement in action. The operating arm 57is formed just beyond its curved-in portion 6l witha track-way 67 formedand arranged to permit the roller pins 62, after having operated thelever arm, to pass therethrough and the direction of this track-way issuch that during such period of passage the lever arm 57, and thus theouter sleeves, are held stationary during which period the intermediatesleeve cooperates therewith in a manner now to be explained to form thestaple. Each outer sleeve 58 has pivoted thereto near its lower end at68 an anvil lever 69 having a turned-in anvil portion 70 adapted t0extend in at right angles and quite closely under the wire as fedv inthrough the wire tube 56. This anvil lever extends up some littledistance beyond its pivot 68 and its upper extremity is formed with acam head 71 adapted to be engaged by a cam face 72 formed on theintermediate spindle between lengthwise slots 78, 74 therein. The wirehaving been fed by the automatic feeding mechanism in thro-ugh the feedtube 56 to an extent so that after being cut off it extends equally ateach side of the anvil 70, and the knife plate 64 having been moved forits described cut-olf operation, the intermediate spindle is caused todescend by impulse from the crosshead 45, the cam face 72 on theintermediate spindle engaging the cam head 71 on the anvil lever to holdthe anvil in operative position. Further movement of the intermediatesleeve brings its lower end down over the anvil 70, which end haslongitudinal grooves or corners 75, into which the extremities of thewire are closely drawn by the downward movement of the sleeve 54 overthe anvil 70 so that the severed piece of wire is thereby bent into aU-shaped staple aro-und the anvil with the staple retained in the mouthof the intermediate spindle 54 and with the points extending downward inthe corners 75 of the spindle aperture. Upon the completion of thisbending operation the intermediate spindle 54 has moved far enough downso that the cam face 72 has passed beyond the cam head 71 into line withthe slot 74 and the anvil lever is now free to swing in a direction tomove the anvil outward out of operative position. As it is necessarythat the anvil move out of the path of the intermediate sleeve 54 andinner spindle in their further movements, means is provided to insurethe swinging of the anvil lever 69 to effect this result. To this end aslide plate 76 is mounted in the guide support 41 and is urged fortransverse movement by a spring 77 pressing against one end thereof.This plate carries a series of projecting pins 78, each adapted toengage one of the anvil levers 69 above its pivot and, as the anvillevers which are carried by the outer sleeves move downward therewith inthe seating movement of the sleeves, it will be seen that the pivotpoints 68 move away from these pins so that they exert an increasingleverage on the anvil levers to insure the movement of the anvils out ofthe way. This special position and relative arrangement of the springpressed pins 78 with reference to the anvil levers 69 is of furtherimportance when the parts are being returned to initial position afteran operation in that it provides an arrangement whereby, when the camheads 7l are engaged above the cam faces 72, z'. e. in the slots 74, thespring pressed pins 78 engage the lever arm near its top so as to holdthe same pressed in with some little force and insure the drawing up ofthe outer sleeve to its upper limit of movement along with theintermediate sleeve. The outer sleeve having reached its upper limit ofmovement as determined by engagement of the upper stop 60 with thesupport 41, the cam head 71 rides over the cam face 72 in the furtherupward movement of the intermediate sleeve 54, thus restoring the partsto the position shown in Fig. 8 with the spring pressed pins 78 backnear the pivots 68 where they exert comparatively little influence onthe anvil levers toresist their return to active position. The yieldingpins 78 and shifting position with reference to the lever pivot, etc.,constitute a simple means for insuring durability and accuracy.

As the described movement of the intermediate spindle 54 for forming thestaple to U-shape around the anvil 70 is being completed, the outersleeve 58 is released for further movement downward by the passage of apin 62 out of the runway 67 of the lever 57 so that the intermediate andouter spindles now move on down together until both seat on the buttoncard, (which as before explained is supported on the horns of the anvilsl1, which thereby prevent any pressure of said sleeves 58, 54 coming onthe buttons) the anvils 70 having in the meantime been moved out of theway as described. This downward seating movement of the intermediate andouter sleeves is eifected by downward movement of the crosshead 45acting through collars 79 upon coiled springs 80 which press uponcollars 81 fixed to the intermediate sleeves 54 so thatl the downwardseating movement of the sleeves is effected delicately by yieldingpressure, thus permitting the sleeves to seat properly and withsubstantially equal pressure irrespective of the varying thicknesses ofthe buttons and without danger of injur f to fragile buttons. Thecrosshead 45 effects the subsequent lifting of the sleeves after thestaple driving operation by a ledge or lifter 82 thereon engaging a lug88 on the intermediate sleeve 54 shown as formed with the collar 81. Theintermediate and outer sleeves are held from relative turning by a pin84 in the intermediate sleeve engaging an elongated slot 85 in the outersleeve.

Upon the completion of the described downward movements the plungersleeve or against the anvil faces to turn the free ends of the spindlelegs in around the bars or cross pieces between the eyes of thebutto-ns. These driving spindles are forced downward by having theirheads 86 engaged by yielding presser rods 87 Figs. 1, G, 19 carried by ahead 88 on an arm 89 pivoted on the axis 47 and having an operatingextension 90 eX- tending back of said axis with an adjustable screw bolt91 passed therethrough to engage an inward extension 92 of the lever arm49. Thus the driving spindles are operated from the same source, namelythe cam roll 50, which moves the sleeves downward for the seatingmovement, but their operating connections are arranged so that theiroperative movement does not begin until the sleeves are seated upon thecard. The presser rods 87 are adjustably mounted in the head 88 by meansof sleeves 93 threaded in said head guiding reduced eX- tensions 94 ofthe presser rods, there being interposed springs 95 between these parts,so that the driving spindles, though pressed forward with asubstantially positive movement, have acertain amount of yield and thusthey are always moved just to the end of the intermediate sleeves 54whatever the position of these sleeves may be for different thicknessesand sizes of buttons, this limiting position being determined by stopcollars 9G on the driving spindles which engage the tops of theintermediate sleeves at the proper point. The driving spindles 55 arereturned from operative position to initial position by springs 97interposed between the heads 86 thereof and the top of the crosshead 45.

I now come to a.leading feature of my invention which coperates with themechanisms already explained to make possible the rapid, careful andaccurate fastening of the but-tons on the cards and yetwithout anydanger of breaking the butto-ns. Also whereby the buttons, althoughproperly secured, are so lightly held that they lnay be readily pulledfrom the card and from the holding wires without danger of tearing thecard or of breaking the button, even though the latter may be frail.

Referring particularly to Figs. 10, 11 and 12, each of the anvils 11 ispreferably formed of a threaded cylindrical shank set in the carriageplate 12 and is adjusted to proper operative position in said plate forthe particular buttons to be carded and locked in position by a backingsetscrew 98. The operative top portion of this anvil 2'. a. the anvilproper is reduced as seen at 99, and provided with an upstanding portionwhich is cupped and cut out t0 form the anvil or bending portion abovewhich are opposite narrow upright prongs 100 constituting a horn forreceiving and supporting the card free from the buttons. A flatperipheral surface 101 is preferably provided adjacent the anvil, and,as shown, integral therewith, to afford a proper seat or positioningsupport fo-r the buttons. As seen in Fig. 10, an ordinary button a isseated on the anvil resting on the flat peripheral surface 101, asdescribed, and setting down into a recess 102 therefor in the stripperplate 14.

By having the card on top of the buttons or, in other words, the buttonsbeneath the card, I utilize the force of gravity or the weight of thesubjacent buttons in aiding the delicacy of engagement between thebuttons and the staple-ends or wire fastener, inasmuch as, when thefastener is forced through the card, the button itself is under notendency to press against the card nor to receive pressure from thestaple and staple forming and driving mechanism, but on the contrary thebutto-n tends, by t-he force of gravity, to pull away, as it were, fromthe card. When the staple has been driven almost into holding place orposition, the staple-ends are then deftly bent toward each other andcaused to grasp and lift the button against the card, as will presentlybe described. The fact, therefore, that the buttons are placed beneaththe card so that gravity tends to move them or hold them away from thecard, as distinguished from tending to bring all their weight upon thecard as would be the case if they wereI on top of the latter), causesthe dead-weight of the buttons to resist the lifting influence of thewire-ends and therefore constitutes one feature toward the delicatehandling and protection of frail buttons.

The staples as formed by the coperative action of the plunger sleevesdescribed, and held in the corners 75 of the square hole in the end ofthe intermediate sleeve 54, and haveI their ends exactly positioned andspaced apart just the proper distance so that, as they are forcedthrough the card b by the driving spindles 55, they engage within theprongs 100. To provide for the proper guidance of the staple ends afterthey are passed through the card and the button, so that they shall beturned over and closely folded against the button but without pressureon the button, and also to insure that the two ends shall be guidedypast each other so as not to meet and be mutually blocked and thereby bein danger of buckling or bending improperly against the button, theinner sides of the prongs 100 are milled out to form guide grooves 103,104. These grooves lead from the top of each prong down through thecupped out portion and past the center the two grooves passing thecenter with an intermediate rib 105 between them so that each leg end ofthe staple is guided past the other without any liability of the endsmeeting disastrously as explained above. To insure a proper clearancespace for the wire ends as they are folded around over the center of thebutton, the grooves 103, 104 are deepened at. the bases o-f the prongs100, as seen at 106, so that there is a way always provided for themovement of the wire ends to bend around the center of the button nomatter what type of button may be in hand. A further important functionof this special mechanism is that the upstanding prongs 100 insureproper registered position of the buttons relative to the settingplungers so that the staple ends after passing through the card are inexact alinement with the holes in the buttons so as to pass straightdown through the same. But the most important function of this mechanismis that the buttons are thereby relieved of strain. This is extremelyimportant in certain classes of pearl buttons in which the buttons arefar from uniform and the centers of the buttons which contain the eyesare eX- ceedingly fragile. rlhese buttons are cnt from fresh-watershells and are apt to be irregular in thickness, sometimes verging downto a thin edge at one side from a thick edge at the other side, andsometimes the center chips away to an exceedingly thin cross bar orbridging portion when the eyes are drilled. Yet it is essential in themachine carding of such pearl buttons that the machine shall handle allthe buttons with a delicacy which is safe for the frailest of thebuttons so that none of them shall be broken when presented to themachine. Accordingly this delicacy is attained in my machine largely bythe following features.

The staple (or, as will later be explained, whatever kind of relativelystiff but readily yieldable filamentous device or wirelike holder isemployed) is made at the back of the card and presented to theimperforate card and forced thro-ugh the card, thereby getting all thegripping resistance and cooperative support of the card, but withoutbringing any pressure or strain whatever on the button because the cardis supported, not by the button, but by the horn above the anvil whoseprongs 100 enter the butto-n eyes and present their stub ends againstthe front side of the card around the points or spots through which thestaple-ends are forced, whereby said prongs take all the pressure ofthis staple forcing movement and relieve the button entirely of saidpressure. The grooves in the prongs of the horns receive the ends of thestaple-legs so that, notwithstanding the fact that said legs have beenshoved downward with suii'icient pressure to force them through thecard, they cannot engage the sides of the buttoneye nor strike againstthe but-ton in any 'ay whatever, because they are housed and guided ordirected along said grooves down through the centers of the button-eyes.Then the anvil comes into play and coperates with these prongs infolding the stapleends across the bridging cross-bar of the button whichis between the eyes, and it accomplishes this folding or deflecting ofsaid ends into the desired embracing position with relation to thebutton, without the possibility of any lin'essure coming against thebutton, because the pressure o-n the staple wire is in a direction awayfrom the fac-c of the button as distinguished from being toward the faceof the button. lVIoreover the card, by reason of the foregoingarrangement of mechanism, is utilized as a cushionsupport for thestaple. This is in distinction from having the staples put through inthe opposite direction, for instance, in which case the staple wouldcome directly against the cross bar of the button and the legs of thestaple would have to be bentagainst the back of the card, which wouldnecessarily result in pulling the body of the staple hard against thebutton under the influence of whatever strain or deflection of thestaple legs might be brought against their ends behind the card. Insteadof this, I bring the body of the staple behind the card, and hold thecard on the stub ends of the prongs rigidly against any tendency whichmight otherwise be present to pull the card hard against the buttonunder the clenching operation. and I accomplish the clenching of thestaple, not by moving a plunger toward the face of the button to jam orcrush the staple legs down against the butt-on, but by providing aguide-way or grooved path for said legs in the stationary anvil and thencontinuing the forward movement of the staple` from the back of the cardso thatas the legs are moved downward and forward in a direction awayfrom the face of the button, said movement: causes them to cooperatewith the grooved path or paths in assuming the required embracingpositions, said leg ends being preferably bent toward each other.Preferably also this movement is continued to a sufficient extent tocause the staple end or ends of the legs thereof to hug against thecross bar of the button sufficiently to pull the button up relativelytightly against the card. The

fact that the grooves are right and left or outI of line with each otherfacilitates this result without in any way endangering the button.According to my invention, the staple has pierced the card beforeengaging the prongs of the supporting horn. Also, the buttons do notrest on the card nor the card on the buttons, but they are broughttogether by the inward pulling bending of the staple under its outwardimpulse or propulsive movement. rlhis prevents any dangerous pinching ofthe button or any pos- `sible lack of uniformity of engagement. Thepressure that clenches the staple is applied behind the card in adirection away from the face of the button. The horn (or, as hereinshown, the prong extensions from the anvil) has five functions, axiallymaintaining the button in right relation to the staple, supporting thecard, turning the ends of the staple so as to lift the button,delivering the ends of the staple to an anvil in such position as topass by each other so as not to interfere with each other or with thebutton, and guiding the wire ends in a direction from the ends of theprong and thence lengthwise thereof through and about the button.

As explained, it is essential that the wire the several staple formingplunger-s and to' this end I provide an automatic wire feeding mechanismoperated in timed relation to the rest of the machine and in thepreferred embodiment shown, having its operative impulse imparted fromthe wheel 35. four wires for supplying the respective plungers are drawnfrom reels 107 suitably mounted on the framework, there being two ofthese reels side by side on an upper axis 108 and two lower ones on alower axis 109, the supports for these reels being shown as brackets 110projecting outward from the framework. These reels are relativelyarranged laterally so that the respective wires as drawn therefrom areproperly spaced apart and these wires tirst pass through an initialtension device composed=of a fixed block 111 supported from theframework and slidably guided blocks 112 pressed up against the fixedblock by springs 113 adjustable by means of nuts 114 threaded on theguide pins of said blocks. The wires are thence drawn through a furtherindi-I vidual tension device so that a substantially uniform tension isilnparted to each. This tension device consists of a series of pins 115with friction heads, one for each wire, slidable transversely through alower wire guiding plate 116 and pressed upward to push the wire againstan upper wire guide plate 117 with the desired friction grip by springarms 118 fixed to a rock shaft 119 journaled in a fixed block 120.

The

rlhe rock shaft 119 is held in position to place the proper stress onthe springs 118 by means of an arm 121 pivoted thereto at 122, this armengaging over a fixed lug 123 when the friction pins are to be held inoperative position, and the arm 121 being adapted to swing on its pivot-122 so as to be disengaged from its holding lug 123 when it is desiredto turn the shaft 119 to relieve the pressure on the pins. The wiregripping and feeding devices are mounted on sleeves 124 slidable onspaced apart hori- Zontal rods 125, the immediate wire gripping jaw 126being carried by an arm 127 pivoted at 128 to an extension 129 dependingfrom sleeves 124. The depending extension 129 carries a wire guide 130extending for most of the distance between the tension devices and thereceiving tubes 56. The gripper carrying arm 127 is extended beyond thegripper 126 and formed with a toe 131 which is adapted to come intoengagement with the top of the wire guide 130 and limit the grippingmovement so that the teeth of the gripper 126 can only bite into thewire to the desired extent. Mutilation of the wire by the gripper teethis further avoided by the use of spring pressed backing blocks 132oppositely arranged to serve as backings for the respective wiresopposite the points where they are enga-ged by the gripper 126. Theseblocks are slidably guided in recesses formed at the base of theextension 129 and are pressed upward by springs 133 held in place by abacking plate 134. Driving movement for reciprocating the slide 124 andsimultaneously swinging the arm 127 to grip the wire is imparted througha link 135 connected to one arm of a bell crank lever 136 pivoted on theshaft of wheel 35, and having its other arm connected with a link 137pivoted at 13S to the extremity of the lever extension 92. The movement.of this lever extension is greater than is usually required foreffecting the desired wire feed and to regulate the amount of motiontransmitted, the link 137 has an elongated slot 139 in which plays a pin140 on the bell crank lever 136, the extent of play o-f the pin in theslot being regulated by a screw bolt 141 adjusted through the end of thelink to extend into the slot a greater or less extent. The extent offeed is determinable with exactness by means of a stop pin 142 ixed torod 125 and engageable at either side by stops 143 threaded through abracket 144 fixed to the slide sleeve 124 so that the extent of movementof the slide sleeve can be quickly determined with pre cision byadjusting these threaded stops. To take up any excess movement of theoperating link 135 after the feed slide has been positively stopped bythese stops, the arm 127 has a yielding connection with the link 135constituted by a pin 145 thereon operating in an elongated slot 146 inlink 135 against a stiff spring 147, whose tension is determined by anadjusting screw bolt 148. The extent and timing of the wire feed canthus be determined and regulated with the utmost precision for propercooperation with the staple forming and setting plungers.

Since the machine proceeds automatically to perform its severaloperations, forming the staples and securing the buttons to the card foreach card after being started, it is desirable that the drivingmechanism be arranged for operative connection throughout a completecycle of movements and then automatically disconnected until againstarted by the operative, and to effect this result a clutch and stopmechanism is provided, of which the particular form shown is anillustrative. embodiment. As shown, the main driving wheel 35 has atoothed periphery which is engaged by a pinion 149 on a shaft 150 havingthereon a worm wheel 151 driven by a worm 152 fast on a shaft with theinitial driving pulley 153. The worm wheel 151 is loose on shaft 150 andadapted to be connected therewith by a. usual sliding pin and collarconnection indicated at 154, the pin being normally held in clutchingconnection by a spring 154% As a means of controlling this connection alever 155 Figs. 1 and 4 is pivotally mounted at 156 on the framework andprovided with an inclined cam face 157 adapted, when raised up into thepath of the clutch pin, to withdraw the same and so disconnect the wormwheel 151 from its connection to operate the machine. The lever 155 isextended out to the front of the machine, as seen at 158, and a coilspring 159 is mounted on its axis arranged by its tension tocounterbalance the excess weight in the long arm 158, so that the lever,when released, will move so as to cause the cam face 157 to movedownward out of position for engaging the clutch pin. The forward end ofthis lever has an elongated slot 160 to which a block 161 is adjustablyfixed, having at its front end a vertical face 162, and at its rear aninclined cam face 163. The slide carriage 13 carries a somewhat similarblock 164 fixed on a rock shaft 165, this block having a forwardinclined face 166 and a rearward vertical face 167. An upward extension168 rigid with this block engages al stop 169 on the slide carriage anda coil spring 170 is connected to urge this extension against this blockso as normally to hold the block 164 in the position shown in Fig. 1.The shaft 165 extends across the machine and at the side opposite theblocks 161, 164 is provided with a hand lever 171, this hand lever thusbeing at the front side of the machine for convenient operation.

In use, the operative having filled the tray-space 2 with buttonsarranged in rows and bottoms upward, moves same over the anvils and thensliding the knob 8 through the slot 10, the bottom of the tray isremoved and the buttons deposited on the respective anvils which areproperly spaced to receive them, and by slight manipulation the buttonsare fitted on the anvils so that the prongs of the horns extend upthrough the but-ton eyes in each case. The button card is positioned inits holding members over the buttons and supported on the ends of thehorns ready to receive all the carding pressures, and the machine isready for operation. The operative now lifts the hand lever 171,swinging the block 164 to the left, as seen in Fig. 1, enough so thatits edge 167 clears the edge 162 of block 161, thus permitting the leverarm 158 to rise and to lower the cam face 157 out of engagement with theclutch pin. Driving connection is thus established from the worm wheelto the shaft 150 and thence to the main con trolling wheel 35 so thatthe entire machine is started into action. The slide carriage 13 isfirst advanced to bring the first row of buttons underneath the settingplungers which thereupon, having their several parts actuated by thelevers 57, 46 and 89, shear off the wire accurately in length andevenly, bend it into staple form and force its evenly severed endsthro-ugh the button card to be projected into the guide grooves 103 and104 of t-he staple guiding and bending hornsupports, whereby it is bentand closely pressed against the center webs of the buttons. The plungersare thereupon retracted and the operation repeated as the slide carriageis advanced to bring the successive button rows into alinementunderneath the setting plungers. After the last row of buttons has beenfastened, i. e., as herein shown, and preferably stapled to the card,the roll 33 ente-rs the portion 34e of its controlling cam and the slidecarriage is quickly returned to initial position, the latter part ofthis movement causing the inclined face 166 to engage the incline 163,thus forcing the lever arm 158 downward and projecting the cani face1-57 again up into the path of the clutch pin, so that the drivingconnection is again broken. It is to be observed that in this operationthe block 164 is held rigid for coperation with the face 163, becausethe project-ion 168 engages the stop 169. On the other hand, as theslide carriage advances on its forward movement, the block 164 ridesover the block 161 merely turning it against the tension of the spring170.

From the foregoing it will be understood that my machine is capable notonly of carding the buttons rapidly and automatically but without dangerof breakage. This is one of the chief objects of the invention. Thefrail fresh-water-pearl buttons can be secured to the cards withoutliability of breaking out the center, even though any particular buttonmay be very thin, chipped or slender at that point. This is of primeimportance to the manufacturer because the breakage of a single buttonnecessarily throws out the ent-ire card (in power carding), requiressorting, much hand-work, etc. I provide means for forcing the wirethrough the card first, this being of practical importance in causingthe wire to cling and hold or remain in the card when the button issubsequently pulled olf. l provide means for maintaining the wire out ofpressing contact with the button while its end or ends are being bent ordeflected laterallyT at the face side of the button for holding thebutton on the card.

My machine contains means for bending or deflecting the wire adjacentthe face of the button but without using the. button as thc anvil orfulcrum over which the wire is bent or against which it is crushed orforced. Means is provided for fastening the card and button togetherwithout pressure of one against the other, as distinguished frompressing them together in the process of putting the fastening device inplace and securing it. Mechanism is provided for causing the wire topierce the card before engaging the horn, anvil, or button. The buttonis brought against the card by means of the wire instead of beingpressed against the card as a means of supporting t-he wireplacingmechanism. The pressure that bends the wire (i. e. clenches the staplein the preferred embodiment of the invention here presented) is appliedbehind the card in a direction away from the opposite side of the cardand from the face of the button, and not in a direction toward thebutton and the card behind it. rlhe card is on top of the button in thecarding operation, as distinguished from having the button on top of thecard, as heretofore. This is of very decided practical importance insaving the buttons from breakage or other injury. rThe card is supportedfree from the button (and by this l do not mean that they mustnecessarily be out of touch with each other, but that means is providedfor sustaining the card so that the weight of the card and the pressurebrought thereon by the wiring mechanism are not borne by or transmittedto the button). A horn is provided for entering the button-eye, saidhorn containing guiding means for deflecting the end of the wire. Alsosaid horn and the adjacent mechanism are arranged to receive the end ofthe wire first at the outer end of the horn. Also said horn has a bluntend to constitute a support for the card to rest down 'dat against orupon. Means is provided for adjusting the horn up or down to vary theheight of the card. Also the horn coperates with the anvil in actuallyclenching the wire around the face of the button. The anvil containsmeans fo-r passing the wire ends by each other or out of alinementacross the face of the button. Means is provided for supporting thecenter of the button at all points excepting where the wire must pass,so that a frail button is thus momentarily reinforcedcr strengthenedjust as it is being fastened by the wire. I provide thiscentersupporting means in position to engage the face of th-e button,which is always the properly turned, leveled and finished side of thebutton, and therefore best adapted to fit evenly, smoothly andaccurately against such a center-support. Also, by holding the card asexplained, 1 am enabled to utilize the card as a cushion support for thestaple.

l believe my invention is novel in each of the features set forth ineach of the preceding sentences of this-paragraph, and I intend to coverthe same individually as well as in various combinations, as will beapparent in the appended claims.

It is to be understood that while all of the several features of myimproved machine have special cooperation with one another and togetherconstitute a particularly effective mechanism for the purpose in view,certain of these features may be applied in othel` relations, and ltherefore desire to cover the-combinations present in the several part-sof my improved machine, whether employed in the general organizationshown or elsewhere.

The invention is not limited to any particular kind of a staple orfastening device as a one-prono' device is practical, and in general Iwish it understood that the various mechanisms are intended to beclaimed broadly enough to cover any combination or relation (and for usewith any kind of fastener) in and with which it is practicable to usethem.

It is further to be understood that the structural embodiment of theinvention as a whole and its various features as shown is merelyillustrative and not restrictive, since I am well aware that many of thedetails of construction can be widely varied without departing from thespirit of the invention. l therefore do not desire to be limited inthese particulars or in any others, except as set forth in the appendedclaims. Moreover, l wish it understood that 1 use certain terms hereinin a broad or generic sense. By the word wire fastener l include anythread-like, slender filament, of metal or otherwise, capable of passingthrough and being held in and by a cardlilte support and outstandingtherefrom so as lightly to embrace or engage and lightly retain thebutton or garment fastener, and having sufficient stiffness formaintaining the fastener or button in place prior to use and sufficientpliability to be readily bendable (somewhat like an annealed Wire) inthe direction of pull on the fastener for releasing the fastenerl fromthe support upon a slight pull on the fastener, e. still enough toretain the button by reason of its own inherent stiffness, and yetpliable enough to part with the button Without disrupting the card onthe one hand or inj uring the button on the other, but simply bending orstraightening out when the button is lightly pulled. .By the Wordembrace l mean to include any form of overlapping engagement which Willoffer opposition to a pull on the button or garment fastener in adirection to remove the button from the card. The Word t button is usedto mean a catch or garment fastener', including various forms andmaterials, to fasten together the different parts of dress, includingglove snaps or buttons, hoolrs and eyes, as Well as the ordinary kindsof buttons which cooperate `with button-holes. The `Word staple is usedto include any form of said filament or Wire bent into substantiallyU-shape, irrespective of Whether the legs are both long and of the samelength or not. Stapling the button to the card is not meant to berestricted to the particular form into which the Wire is bent, but isused to mean the placing of the Wire in the card and through the buttonin such form, position and arrangement as to secure the Wire in the cardand in such engagement with the button as to retain the latter.Clenching the Wire is meant to include the lateral deilecting of the endor ends of the filamentous securing means in such a manner as to holdthe button in place, irrespective of whether the Wire is bent in onedirection or in another, or Whether it has two ends so bent or only one,and whether the ends are overlapped 0r simply bent toward each other orare bent avvay from each other. The fastener' is yielding in the senseof being bendable or capable of bending, c. g. when in the form of astaple the latter is preferably comparatively open-mcuthed so that theends shall open freely to release the button when the latter is 'pulledslightly. Preferably this yielding also has a slight spring so as topermit the legs to return toward each other slightly when the button hasbeen removed, the fastener thereby maintaining a shape Which makes itimpossible for it to drop from the card (although it Will normally beheld in the card anyway by reason of the fact that it was originallyforced through the card as distinguished from being inserted throughholes in the card). And finally by the Word card l mean to include anysheet-like member for supporting or carrying a button, irrespective ofthe form and material of said mem# ber, z'. e. Whether it is Wide ornarrow, long or short, stiff or flexible, paper, metal, cloth, leather,or any other substance, etc.

Having described my invention, What l claim as neu' and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

l. A button carding machine, comprising mechanism for maintaining' thecard and button in proper relation to be secured together, and means forforcing the holding Wire through the card prior to being engaged withthe button, and means for thereafter clenching the Wire into holdingrelation with the button.

2. A button carding machine, comprising mechanism for maintaining thecard and button in proper relation to be secured together, means forforming a Wire into a U-shaped staple, mechanism cooperating therewithfor forcing the legs of said staple through said card in frictionalholding engagement With the card and then through the eyes of thebutton, and means for thereafter clenching the free ends of said stapleinto holding engagement with the button.

3. A button carding machine, comprising mechanism for maintaining thecard and button in proper relation to be secured together, mechanism forinterlocking a Wire with the card so as to permanently mount the Wire inthe card and leave an outstanding portion of the Wire on the button sideof the card, and cooperating means for so deilecting the free end ofsaid outstanding portion into button holding relation to the but ton asto be capable of readily yielding to a slight pull on the button topermit. the removal of the button Without dislodging the Wire from itsmounting in the card.

et. A button carding machine, comprising mechanism for maintaining thecard and button in proper relation to be secured together, and mechanismfor removably attaching the button to the card by means of a Wireholder, including means for maintaining the Wire out of pressing contactWith the button while the Wire is being bent laterally at the face sideof the button, and means for so bending the Wire at the face side of thebutton into holding relation With the button.

5. A button carding machine, comprising mechanism for maintaining thecard and button in pro-per relation to be secured together, andmechanism for removably attaching the button to the card by means of aWire staple, including means for maintaining the Wire out of pressingcontact Wit-h the button ivhile the ends of the staple are being bentlaterally at the face side of the button, and means for so bending thefree ends of the staple at the face side of the button into holdingrelation with the button.

6. A button carding machine, comprising mechanism for maintaining thecard and button in proper relation to be secured together, and mechanismfor removably attaching the button to the card by means of a wirestaple, including means for maintaining the wire out of pressing contactwith the button while the ends of the staple are being bent laterally atthe face side of the button, and means for bending the free ends of thestaple toward each other to grasp the center of the button at the faceside of the button.

7. A button carding machine, comprising` mechanism for maintaining acard and button in proper relation to be secured together, and mechanismfor removably attaching the button to the card by means o-f a wire,including mechanism for bending the wire adjacent the face of the buttonindependently of resistance from the button, whereby the clenching ofthe wire is accomplished without using the button as an anvil or fnlcrumover which the wire is bent.

8. A button carding machine, comprising mechanism for maintaining a cardand button in proper relation to be secured together, but withoutpressure of one against the other, as distinguished from pressing themtogether in the process of putting the fastening wire in place andsecuring it, means fo-r putting a fastening wire in place to secure thebutton to the card, and means for then securing it.

9. A button carding machine, comprising mechanism for maintaining a cardand button in proper relation to be secured together, including astationary anvil for bending the wire into holding relation to thebutton, and means for placing the wire through the card and button andforcibly projecting a free end of the wire against the stationary anviluntil the wire is bent into holding relation with the button.

10. A button carding machine, comprising mechanism for maintaining acard and button in proper relation to be secured together, including astationary anvil for bending the wire into holding relation to thebutton, and means for inserting the wire through the card and thenthrough the button and against the stationary anvil and for continuingthe forward movement of the wire until the anvil has bent said wire intoholding relation with the button.

11. A butt-on carding machine, comprising mechanism for supporting thecard independently of the button while maintaining them in properrelation to be secured together, and wire placing and bending mechanismfor securing the button and card together, including means operatingindependently of pressure on the bottom for bending the wire intoholding relation wit-h the button.

12. A button carding machine, comprising mechanism for supporting abutton'and card in proper position to be secured together, in-

cluding means for supporting the card independently of the button, andmechanism for placing av holding wire in holding rela.- tion to the cardand button, including pressure applyingmeans for bending the wire toretain the button arranged to apply all its pressure against the cardonly,

13. 1n a machine for carding buttons, means for supporting a buttonbottom upward, means for support-ing a card above said button, and wireplacing mechanism for fastening the button and card together, includingmeans operating above the card for inserting a wire downward through thecard and button.

14. 1n a machine for carding buttons, means for supporting a buttonbottom upward, means for support-ing a card above said butt-on, and wireplacing mechanism for fastening the button and card together, includingmeans operating above the card for inserting a wire downward through thecard and button, and means located below the button for bending theforward end of said wire about the button.

15. In a machine for carding buttons, means for supporting a buttonbot-tom upward, means for supporting a card above said button, and wireplacing mechanism for fastening the button and card together, includingmeans o )erating above the card for inserting a wire c ownward throughthe card and button, and stationary means located below the button forbending the forward end of said wire about the button.

16. In a machine fo-r carding buttons, means for supporting a buttonbottom upward, means for supporting a card above said button, stapleinserting means operating above the card to insert a staple downwardthrough the card and then through the button, and means below the buttonfor defi-ecting the free ends of the staple about the button.

17. In a machine for carding buttons, means for supporting a buttonbottom upward, means for supporting a card above said button, stapleinserting means operating above the card to insert a staple downwardthrough the card and then through the button, and means below the buttonfor deflecting the free ends of the staple toward each other about thebutton.

18. In a machine for carding buttons, means for supporting a buttonbottom upward, means for supporting a card above said butto-n, stapleinserting means operating above the card to insert a staple downwardthrough the card and then through the button, and means below the buttonfo-r deflecting the free ends of the staple'toward each other and out ofalinement with each other about the center of the button,

19. A button cardingmachine, comprising means for supporting a card andbutton in proper position to be secured together by a bent wire, andmechanism for thus securing them together by said wire, including meansfor applying propulsive pressure lengthwise 'of the wire in a directionaway from the tace ot the card and outward from the face ol" the button,as distinguished Jfrom a direction toward the button and the card behindit, for placing the wire in buttonholding position and relation to thecard and button.

20. A button cardingmachine, comprising positioning means formaintaining` the card and button in proper relative position to becarded, and mechanism for fastening said card and button together by abent wire, including wire deflecting means for bending the wire intoholding position about the button, and means for applying the pressureto the wire which thus bends the wire in a direction from the cardtoward the button and outward from the face ot the button asdistinguished from a direction toward the button and the card behind it.

21. A button carding machine7 comprising positioning means formaintaining the card and button in proper relative position to becarded, and mechanism for fastening said card and button together by abent wire including wire detlecting means for bene ing the wire intoholding position about the button7 and means located behind the card forapplying the pressure to the wire which thus bends the wire inadirection from the card toward the button and outward from the tace ofthe button as distinguished -from a direction toward the button and thecard behind it.

A button carding machine, comprising positioning means for maintainingthe card andv button in proper relative position to be carded, andmechanism for fastening said card and button together by al bent staple,including staple detlecting means for bending the staple into holdingposition about the button, and meansY located behind the card forapplying the pressure to the staple which thus bends the staple in adirection from the card toward the button and outward from the tace otthe button as distinguished from a direction toward the button and thecard behind it.

A button carding machin-e7 comprising means for supporting the cardabove the butt-on and relieving the button trom pressure when applied tothe card and mechanism for fastening said card and button together by astaple, including means located above the card for applying solely adownward movement to the staple for placing' the staple legs through thecard and button, and stationary means located beneath the button fordetlecting the leg-ends of the staple laterally into holding relationwith the button as the staple is thus moved downward.

24. In a machine for carding buttons, means for supporting a card incarding posit-ion above the buttons, means for sup-porting a series ot'buttons beneath said card in proper relation for carding, whereby thebuttons tend by gravity to move away from the card7 and a plurality offastener-applying devices for applying fasteners in holding relation tothe card and subjacent buttons, for securing them together in oppositionto said gravity tendency while the but-- tons are still supportedbeneath the card.

25. In a machine for carding buttons, means for supporting the card incarding position above the button whereby the button tends by gravity tomove away from the card, and means for applying a holding wire to thecard and button, including means for dei'lecting the wire about thebutton to hold the button upward toward the card in opposition to saidgravity tendency.

2G. A button carding machine, comprising mechanism for maintaining acard and button in proper relation to be secured together, includingmeans for supporting the button and means for supporting` the cardindependently of the button, and tasteninginserting and securingmechanism for securing the card and button together while they are sosupported.

27. In a machine for carding buttons, means for supporting the card freefrom the button, and automatic mechanism' for detachably securing anddrawing said button and card together.

2S. In a machine for carding buttons, a horn adapted to enter the buttoneye, in carding relation to the but-ton and card, said horn containingguiding means for deilecting the end of the fastening wire, and wireplacing mechanism for inserting said tastening wire.

29. A button carding machine, comprising mechanism for maintaining acard and button in proper relation to be secured together, including ahorn for supporting the card independently of the button, an anvil forbending the fastening wire, and means for causing the wire to pierce thecard before engaging the horn, anvil, or button.

30. In a machine for carding buttons, a horn adapted to enter the buttoneye, and having a blunt end to constitute a support for the card. torest flat aga-inst, and wire placing mechanism for inserting a fasteningwire through the card and button.

3l. in a machine for carding buttons, a. horn adapted to enter thebutton eye, in carding relation to the card, and wire placing vandfastening mechanism, including means to'deliver the end of the wire tothe iio outer end of the horn before engaging the rest of the horn.

32. In a machine for carding buttons a horn having two prongs adapted toenter the eyes of a button in carding relation to thc card, and stapleforming, placing and clenching mechanism, including means for deliveringthe free ends of the formed staple to the outer ends of said prongsivith a. movementl to 7ard the body of the prongs.

In a machine for carding buttons, means for supporting a card above thebutton to be carded, including a horn adjustablel in and out to suitdifferent buttons, and coperating means for inserting a fastening devicefor removably securing the card and button together.

In a machine for carding buttons, means for supporting' a button, a hornfor supporting a card in carding relation to the button, adjusting meansfor adjusting the horn to vary the height of the card, and cooperatingmeans for inserting a fastening device for removably securing the cardand button together.

35. In a machine for carding buttons, a horn, an anvil, and cooperatingstaple forming delivering and driving mechanism, all arranged in mutualcarding relation for securing a button and card together, said horn andanvil being mounted to operate on the same side of the card andcontaining means for defiecting the ends of the staplelegs to embrace aportion of the face of the button When the staple is impelled by saiddriving mechanism.

36. in a machine for cai-ding buttons, an anvil adapted to bend theleg-ends of a staple toivard each other across the face of a button andcontaining means for passing said ends by each other out of endvvisealinement, and Vstaple placing and driving means cooperating ivith saidanvil to deliver and clench the staple in carding relation to a card andbutton.

5T. In a machine for carding buttons, supporting means for engaging theface of the button about its center at substantially all pointsexcepting Where the fastening Wire must pass, and Wire inserting andclenching mechanism for inserting a Wire through the card and button andclenching said Wire in position to hold the button and card together.

3S. ln a machine for cai-ding buttons, tivo separated supports forholding a card in proper relation to and independently of a button topermit the carding operation, and ivire inserting and bending mechanismfor securing the card and button together by means of a bent ivire,including means for inserting the ivire through the card and the buttonbetween said tvvo separated supports to utilize the yielding of the cardas an aid to the fastening operation.

39. In a machine for carding buttons, tWo separated supports for holdinga card in proper relation to and independently of a buttonto permit thecarding operation, and staple inserting and clenching mechanism forsecuring the card and button together by means of said staple,'includingmeans for inserting the staple ends through the card between and closeto said respective separated supports to utilize the card as a cushionsupport for the staple in the fastening operation.

e0. An apparatus of the kind described, comprising means for holding abutton to be carded and a card in assembled relation, and means forlightly securing the button to the card by a frail, pliable staple,including means for forcing the staple legs through the card first andcoperating means for clenching the staple independently of aid andresistance from the buttonr and substantially out of contact With thebutton.

4l. An apparatus of the kind described, comprising means for holding aplurality of buttons to be carded and a card in assembled relation, andmeans for lightly securing the buttons to the card by frail, pliablestaples, including means for forcing the staple legs through the cardfirst and cooperating means for clenching the staples independently ofaid and resistance from the butto-ns and substantially out of contactWith the buttons.

e2. An apparatus of the kind described, comprising means adapted toreceive and hold a plurality of series of buttons to be fixed on a card,means for holding a card in assembled relation thereto, and means forfastening the buttons to the card With Wire one series at a time.

43. An apparatus of the kind described, comprising means adapted toreceive and hold in definite relation a plurality of series of buttonsrequired to fill a card, means for moving said holder to and fromoperative position, means for holding a card in assembled relation tothe buttons, and means for fastening the buttons step by step to thecard With Wire.

e4. An apparatus of the kind described, comprising a series of anvils inposition to hold a series of buttons, means for holding a card inassembled rela-tion to the buttons on said series of anvils, and meansfor fastening the buttons to the card With Wire While positioned on saidanvils.

An apparatus of the kind described, comprising a plurality of series ofanvils in position to hold a plurality of series of buttons in thearrangement required to fill a card, means for holding card in assembledrelation to said buttons and anvils, and means for fastening the buttonsto t-he card With vvire, one series at a time.

46. An apparatus of the kind described,

its@

comprising a tray-slide adapted to receive and hold in definite relationthe buttons to fill a card, a series oit anvils7 means for moving thetray-slide to deposit a complement of buttons on sai-d anvils, and meansfor fixing the buttons to the card with wire while positioned on saidanvils.

l?. An apparatus of the kind described, comprising means for receivingin one position and lniilding in definite relation the requiredplurality of rows of buttons to fill a card, mcchanisn'i for removablysecuring the buttons to the card a row at a time, said holding meanscontaining a delivery device operable when the holding means in a seconuposition to deliver said buttons to be acted upon by said securingmeeliianism, and means for holding a card in carding relation to thebuttons to be acted upon bv said securingl mechanism.

4:8. [in apparatus of the kind described, comprising a tray-slidehaving' a sli-:lal; lv removable bottom and adapted to receive acomplement of buttons to fill a card. and a series of anvils mountedunderneath the path of said trav-slide and adapted each to receive almtton the trav-slide bottom is removed, seid vils being formed andadapted to cooperate vwith ivire setting means for fastening the buttonsto a card.

49. ein apparatus of the kind described comprising a tray-slide at aptedto hold in assembled relation a complement of buttons to lill a cardsaid tray-slide having a slidably removable bottom,l a series of anvilsdirectly underneath the path of movement of said slide, means for movingsaid tray-slide to position over said anvils, said means being adaptedby a further movement to remove the tray-slide bottom. to deposit thebuttons each on one of said anvils, and means for holding a card inassembled relation to the buttons on said anvils.

50. An apparatus of the kind described`l comprising a holder adapted toreceive and hold in assembled relation aV complement of buttons to lilla card, said holder being slidably mounted and having a slidably remov-Y able bottom, a series of anvils arranged underneath the path ofmovement of said holder, means for moving said holder to position oversaid anvils and for then removing the holder bottom to deposit thebuttons on the anvils, means for holding a card in assembled relation tothe buttons on said anvils, and means for securing the buttons to thecard with Wire.

5l. An apparatus of the kind describedl` comprising a series of anvilscorresponding in number and arrangement to that of a complement ofbuttons when fixed on a card, means for holding a card in assembledrelation to a complement of buttons on said anvils, and means for Wiresecuring the buttons to the card 52. An apparatus of the kind described7comprising a series of anvils corresponding in number and arrangement tothat of a complement of buttons When fixed on a card, means for holdinga card in assembled relation to a complement of buttons on said anvils7means for Wire securing the buttons to the card, and means for strippingthe buttons from the anvils after being secured to the card.

53. ln an apparatus of the kind described,-

mechanism for Wire fastening a complement of buttons to a card, meansfor delivering the buttons to said mechanism in position to be fastenedto the card, means for holding the card in proper relation to thebuttons for the carding operation7 and means for stripping the completedcard of buttons from its previously held position upon the completion ofthe carding operation.

54. ln an apparatus of the kind described, mechanism for Wire fasteninga complement of buttons to a card7 means for delivering the card inposition to have said buttons fastened thereto by said fasteningmechanism, and means for stripping' the completed card of buttons fromits previously held position upon the completion of the cardingoperation.

55. In an apparatus of the kind described,

mechanism for Wire fastening a complement of buttons to a card,mechanism for delivering the buttons and card to said mechanism inposition and proper' relation for the carding operation, and means forstripping the completed card of buttons :from its previously heldposition upon the completion of the carding operation.

56. ln an apparatus of the kind described,

mechanism for Wire fastening a complement of buttons to a card, meansfor delivering he buttons to said mechanism in position to be fastenedto the card, means for holding the card in proper relation to thebuttons for the cai-ding operation, and a stripper plate mounted fortilting movement to strip the completed card of buttons from itspreviously held position upon the completion of the carding operation.

57. An apparatus of the kind described7 comprising a series of anvilscorresponding in number and arrangement to that of a complement ofbuttons When fixed on a card, means Afor fixing a complement of buttonson said anvils to a card with Wire, and a stripper plate mounted fortilting movement to free the buttons from the anvils after the staplingoperation.

58. An apparatus of the kind described, comprising a series of anvilscorresponding in number and arrangement to that of a complement ofbuttons when fixed on a card, a staple setting plunger, and means formoving said anvils to bring successive ones thereof beneath saidplunger.

59. An apparatus of the kind described, comprising a series of anvilscorresponding in number and arrangement to that of a complement ofbuttons when ixed on a card, means for holding a card in assembledrelation to a complement of buttons set on said anvils, a staple settingplunger, and means for intermittently moving said anvils to bringsuccessive ones thereof beneath said staple setting plunger'.

60. An apparatus of the kind described, comprising a series ot anvilscorresponding in number and arrangement to that of a complement ofbuttons to be lixed on a card, a line ot' staple setting plungersextending in parallelism with the lines in which said anvils are formed,means for moving said anvils intermittently to bring successive linesthereof beneath the staple setting plungers, and means for operatingsaid plungers in timed relation to said anvil moving means.

6l. An apparatus of the kind described, comprising means for holding acomplement ot' buttons in a series of rows co-rresponding to thearrangement of buttons when ixed on a card, means for holding a card inasseinbled relation to said buttons, a row of Wire securing means forfastening the buttons to the card a row at a time, means for moving saidbutton holding means with the buttons and said card holding means withthe card by steps to said Wire securing means, and means forautomatically locking at each step and exactly locating said movingmeans with relation to said Wire securing means.

62. An apparatus of the kind described, comprising a series of anvilscorresponding in number and arrangement to that of acomplement ofbuttons to be fixed on a card, a line of staple setting plungersextending in parallelism with the lines in which said anvils areJformed, mechanism for moving said anvils by steps to positionsuccessive rows of buttons on said anvils in operative relation to saidplungers, and a spring pressed arm having detents therein coperativewith said anvils to exactly locate the same in their several positions.

63. An apparatus 01": the kind described, comprising a series of anvilscorresponding in arrangement to the desired arrangement ot buttons to befixed on a button-card, horns operatively related to said anvils andhaving upstanding prongs to extend into the button-eyes, wire settingmeans to cooperate with said horns and anvils, and means 'for m'ovingthe anvils and horns to bring them into operative relation with saidwire setting means.

G4. An apparatus of the kind described, comprising a series of anvilscorresponding in number and arrangement to that of a complement ofbuttons to be fixed on a button card, horns having upstanding prongs toextend into the button eyes, a series of staple setting plungers, meansfor moving the anvils and horns to bring them into operative relationwith said plungers, and a stripper plate surrounding said anvils andadapted to free the but-tons from the anvils after the staplingoperation.

G5. An apparatus of the kind described, comprising an anvil containingmeans for guiding and bending the leg-ends of a staple, upstandingprongs to project upward through the button-eyes of a button held inoperativo position with relation to said anvil, and a plungercooperative with said anvil and prongs to insert a staple through a cardand button and to turn the staple ends into holding engagement with thebutton.

66. An apparatus of the kind described,

-comprising an anvil having a seat for a button, upstanding prongs toproject through the button eyes, and a plunger cooperative with saidanvil and prongs to force a staple through a card and button and to turnthe staple ends in closely against the center of the button.

67. An apparatus of the kind described, comprising an anvil having aseatV for a button, upstanding prongs adapted to extend through the eyesof the button, said prongs having on their inner sides guiding grooves,and a staple setting plunger mounted Jfor cooperation with said anvil totorce the ends of a staple through a card and said'button on said anviland to bend the staple ends closely against the center of the button.

GS. An apparatus of the kind described, comprising an anvil having aseat for a button, upstanding prongs adapted to pass through the buttoneyes, said anvil having grooves formed to guide the staple ends pasteach other, and the inner sides of said prongs having grooves formingclearance spaces for the wire ends to traverse in passing through thebutton eyes and bending over the button center.

69. An apparatus of the kind described, comprising means for holding acomplement of buttons and a card in assembled relation, and a plungermounted and arranged to torce the ends of a staple first through saidcard and then to pass said ends through the eyes of a button to fastenthe button to the card.

70. An apparatus ot the kind described, comprising means for holding acomplement of buttons and a card in assembled relation, and a plungerconstructed and arranged to deliver a staple and force its ends firstthrough said card and then to pass said ends thro-ugh the eyes of abutton to fasten the button to the card.

71. An apparatus of the kind described, comprising means for holding acomplement of buttons and a card in assembled relation, a separate anvilsupport for each

